Wrench



S. HOOD.

WRENCH.

APPLICATION FILED MAYIB, 1920.

PatentedSept. 13, 1921.

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SIGUBD HOOD, OF TACOMA, WASHINGTON.

WRENCH.

' Application filed May 18,

T 0 all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, Sronnn Boon, a citizen of the United States, and resident of the city of Tacoma, county of Pierce, and State of lVashington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in -\i' renchesof which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in wrenches, and more particularly to adjustable wrenches of that character wherein handle members equipped with cooperatively arranged jaws may be adjusted to operate on nuts or heads of various sizes, and wherein a means is provided which automatically locks the handles at any adjusted position.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a wrench of the above character which permits an easy and quick adjustment toany position within the limits of the wrench, and which has a locking dog which automatically moves into locking re lation with the parts when they are brought into working position.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, I have provided the improved details of strueture,,the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a side view of a wrench constructed according to the present invention.

Fig. 2- is a front edge view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a back edge view of the wrench, showing the spring pressed locking block.

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section through the outer handle member, showing the locking block and tapered opening through which the inner handle slides.

F ig. 5 is a transverse section on theline of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the locking block. 1

Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail sectional view showing the mounting of the locking block in its inclined opening.

Referring more in detail to the drawings; 1 designates an inwardly opening, channeled shank, provided at one end with a aw 2 having an opening 3 therein in alinement with the channel and through which a second shank 4 is slidably extended.

The shank 4 has a jaw 5 fixed at the end thereof which may, by adjustment ofthe shank 1 in the channeled shank. 1, be moved cooperatively toward or from the jaw 2 to fit nuts or objects on which the wrench is Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 13, 1921.

1920. Serial No. 382,323.

to be applied, of any size within the limits of the wrench. i

The opening 3, at the working edge of the jaw 2, is of such size that the shank l fits snugly therein, but is tapered outwardly toward the opposite side of the jaw 2 that it permits a sort of pivotal or hinge-like movement of the shanks, and allows theinner shank to be moved from the channel of the shank 1, as is illustrated by the dotted lines of Fig. 1.

The back edge of the shank 4 is provided with downwardly facing teeth 8, shown particularly in Fig. l, which are adapted to be engaged when the parts are in closed or working position, by the opposing teeth 9 of a block 10 that is slidably contained in a downwardly inclined opening 11 in the back side of the shank 1. The block is at all times urged inwardly by means of a flat spring 12 that is secured at one end to the back of the shank 1 and at its opposite end bears slidably against the outer face of the block, so that the latter is retained in 1001?.

ing engagement with the shank a at all times except when the shank is moved outwardly from the channeled shank to permit adjustment.

The shank l, at its end opposite the jaw end, is equipped with a loop 15 which serves as a handle and as means whereby the wrench may be, hung up and which will also prevent this shank from being disconnected from the opposite shank by sliding through the opening 3. 7

With the parts of the wrench so constructed and assembled as described, in using the same on. a nut or the like, the jaws are adjusted to the proper spaced distance to receive the nut by spreading the handle ends of the shanks apart, as is illustrated by dotted lines in Fig. 1, which releases the shank at from the teeth of the locking block 10.

The released shank is then adjusted through'the opening 3 to the proper position and the jaws applied to the nut. It is apparent that, since the locking block extends in a downwardly inclined position toward the jaw 2, to such extent that it will engage the shank teeth before the shank is entirely within the channel, as the shank is moved inwardly it first locks with the block and aS it moves farther toward its nested position the block moves outwardly through the inclined opening 11 and draws the shank irpwardly to tighten the jaws against the nut. thus effecting a tight hold thereon.

To release the nut it is onl necessary to release the shanks and spread them apart, which instantly releases the nut.

While I have described and shown the wrench as one adapted for nuts or bolts, it is apparent that the jaws could he toothed so that it could be applied to pipes or other round objects.

It will be seen that in the present device, the larger the bol nut or pipe tobe acted upon, the larger will be the leverage provided because when the jaws are opened apart, the handle of the jaw 2 is extended beyond the end of the shank What I claim as new is:

1. A, wrench of the character described comprising a channeled shank provided at one end with a jaw having a tapered opening therein in alineinent with the shank channel, and having another opening in the base oi the channel adjacent the jaw, a second shank slidablv mounted in the first said opening adapted to pivot hingedly in said opening and to he moved into and 'troin the channel of the first shank. a jaw at the outer end oi the second shank located cooperatively with respect to the first jaw; said jaws to he opened apart at their outer ends by the moving apart of the said shanks, a locking block slidahly mounted in the second said shank openingand extending into the channeled portion thereot and hav-- ing locking teeth on its inner edge, a spring secured to the channeled shank engaging said block to yieldingly urge it into the channel; said second shank having teeth on the inner edge thereof in opposed relation to the block teeth to engage the latter when the shanks are moved into nested relation to lock the same against longitudinal move-- ment relative to each other.

2. A wrench ot the character described comprising a channeled shank provided at one, end with a wrench jaw havine' a tapered opening therein alininc with the channel and having another opening i the base of said channel directed toward the face oi? the jaw, a second shank longitudinally adjustable through the tapered opening and adapted to be moved hingedly therein into and from the channeled shank provided at its outer end with a wrench jaw located cooperatively with respect to the first jaw, and having locking tee :h along its inner edge, a spring pressed locking block adapted to the second said opening and slidable therein to extend substantially iin the channel. when the second shank is in anjusting posi. tion and having teeth thereon tor engaging the shank teeth as the shank is moved in wardly to lock the shank to the block and to eiiect the tigrhtenin c of the jaws against an object engaged thereby when the shanks are moved i'arther toward their closingposition.

Signed at Tacoma, lVashingtc-n, this 11th day of lifilay, 1920.

SIGURD HOOD. 

